1. Preparing Schools For The Flu
Revised September 2014

2. Influenza (The Flu)
The flu is a contagious, respiratory infection caused by influenza viruses.
Flu can be mild to severe, and at times can lead to death.
On average, each year 5% to 20% of the population gets the flu.

3. How Flu Spreads Person to person from coughing and sneezing
Touching objects with flu viruses on them and then touching your eyes, nose or mouth
Contact with infected people
Beginning 1 day before their symptoms start
And up to 7 days after they become sick

4. Symptoms Of The Flu Fever (usually high) Headache Tiredness Dry cough
Sore throat
Runny or stuffy nose
Body aches
Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea (more common in children)

5. Getting Vaccinated Every Year Is The Best Flu Prevention!
The flu vaccine will protect against three influenza viruses: the 2009 H1N1 virus, an H3N2 virus, and an influenza type B virus. Additionally a flu vaccine containing a fourth virus strain, also an influenza type B virus, is available.
The body needs about two weeks after getting the flu vaccine to build immunity.
Flu vaccines do not protect against flu-like illnesses caused by non-influenza viruses.
It takes approximately 2 weeks for the body to build immunity to the seasonal vaccine (for any age).
The viruses in the flu shot are the H1N1 virus (influenza type A), the H3N2 virus (influenza type A), and an influenza type B virus. The H1N1 virus was in the flu shot last year, but the strain of the H3N2 virus changed based on the virus that has been circulating in the population during the previous flu season.
For the H1N1 vaccine, it appears to take 8 to 10 days to build immunity in adults aged 18 to 64.
The wait between doses in children is approximately 21 days. If a child only gets the first dose, there will be partial protection but it is best to get both doses as this will provide the highest levels of protection.

6. When To Get Vaccinated?
As soon as the vaccine becomes available (as early as September)
Throughout the influenza season, into December and January, and beyond
Peak influenza season often occurs in February or later

7. “Flu Shots”
The vaccine is made with inactivated (killed) virus.
►Flu vaccinations or “flu shots” are usually given by needle.
►The vaccine is made with killed virus.

8. Flu shots are approved for use in people 6 months and older, including healthy people with chronic medical conditions.

9. Nasal-Spray Flu Vaccine
The nasal-spray flu vaccine (Flu Mist) is made with live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu.
It provides the same benefits as the flu shot.
The nasal-spray flu vaccine (Flu Mist) is approved for use in healthy people*, 2-49 years of age, who are not pregnant.
*Should not be given to caregivers of people with severely weakened immune systems. These caregivers should get the inactivated flu shot.

10. Who Should Get Vaccinated
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends “universal” flu vaccination. Everyone 6 months and older should be vaccinated against the flu.

11. High Risk Groups For Flu Complications
It is especially important for people at high risk of serious flu-related complications or who live with or care for people at high risk to get vaccinated including:
Children younger than 5 years old, but especially those younger than 2 years old
Pregnant women
People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions

12. High Risk Groups For Flu Complications
People 50 years of age and older
Household contacts and caregivers for children under 6 months of age
People who live in nursing homes and other long term care facilities
Health care workers
Household contacts of people at high risk of complications from the flu

13. People Who Should Not Get Flu Vaccinations
Severe allergy to chicken eggs
Severe reaction to flu vaccination in the past
Developed Guillain-Barre´ syndrome within 6 weeks of getting a flu shot in the past
Children less than 6 months of age
Currently experiencing moderate or severe illness with a fever (wait until symptoms lessen)

14. What If You Were Exposed To The Flu?
After a flu exposure, contact your physician. Antiviral drugs may be used to prevent or treat the flu.
Your physician must make the decision whether antiviral drugs are right for you to use.

15. Healthy Habits Can Stop Flu
Stay home if you are sick!
Avoid close contact with people
who are sick.
Cover your nose and mouth
with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
Don’t touch your eyes, nose & mouth.
Get lots of sleep, be physically active, manage stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat healthy foods.
Wash your hands often.

16. Hand Washing: Simple Yet Serious Prevention!
Wash hands with soap and warm water for seconds. Dry hands with a paper towel or with an air hand dryer.
If soap and water are unavailable,
use wipes or alcohol-based gel
or foam. Rub the product all over
hands and fingers until dry.

17. Always Clean Your Hands
When they are dirty, like after touching things in public spaces
When someone around you is sick
After going to the bathroom
After blowing nose, coughing or sneezing
After changing diapers or helping with toileting
After handling animals or their waste
After handling garbage
Before and after dressing a wound

18. *(chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, soap, and alcohols)
Studies Show…
Flu viruses remain viable and can infect a person for 2 to 8 hours after being deposited on surfaces.
Wiping or spraying surfaces with a household disinfectant* will help prevent spread of flu viruses.
*(chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, soap, and alcohols)

19. Flu In Schools
Students and staff can get sick with the flu and schools may act as a point of spread.

20. School & Health Department Collaboration Is Critical!
The Health Department relies on schools to report weekly illness numbers.
Reporting data allows the Health Department to determine the extent of illness and whether or not flu conditions are severe.

21. Easy Online Reporting Of Weekly Illness Data To Kent County Health Department
Registration and Log In:
Questions on reporting? Call (616)

22. Recommendations To Help Reduce The Spread Of Flu In Schools
Encourage students, parents, and staff to take preventive action to stop the spread of germs.
Get an annual flu shot
Cover coughs and sneezes
Practice good hand hygiene
Keep hands away from eyes, nose and mouth

23. Recommendations To Help Reduce The Spread Of Flu In Schools
Encourage students and staff to stay home when sick.
Stay home until at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever or signs of fever without the use of a fever reducing medicine*.
(*Any medicine with ibuprofen or acetaminophen)

24. Recommendations To Help Reduce The Spread Of Flu In Schools
Encourage routine surface cleaning.
Clean surfaces and objects that are touched often.
Use general cleaning products.
Have disinfecting wipes in the classroom.

25. Recommendations To Help Reduce The Spread Of Flu In Schools
Educate students, parents, and staff on what to do if someone gets sick.
Teach everyone to recognize flu symptoms, emergency warning signs, and who is at high risk.
Separate sick students and staff from others.
Send sick students and staff home if possible.

26. Determining School Guidelines For Flu
Monitor the local flu situation
Data on Kent County flu activity will be posted weekly at
School dismissal and closure is not recommended for the control of seasonal flu
Any response will be determined by the level and severity of illness in the community
Some schools may decide to close based on high student and/or staff absenteeism

27. Additional Recommendations For Administrators
Designate a separate room for sick students until they can be sent home
Stock classrooms with tissues and hand sanitizer

28. Additional Recommendations For Administrators
Review emergency plans and make any necessary revisions
Update staff and student emergency contact lists
Plan how to cover when key staff people are sick

29. Additional Recommendations For Teachers and Nurses
Remove sick students from the classroom and send home if possible
Emphasize covering mouth when coughing and sneezing
Emphasize hand washing after blowing nose, coughing and sneezing
Prepare “take home” lessons for students recovering at home
Regularly clean common surfaces in classrooms

30. Communicate Steps Parents Can Take To Protect Family Against Flu
Encourage annual flu shots for everyone especially those at high risk
Keep a sick child home
Cover coughs and sneezes
Clean hands
Keep sick household members
in separate room
Clean surfaces
Monitor health of sick child

31. Communicate Flu Symptoms Requiring Urgent Medical Care
Fast breathing or trouble breathing
Bluish or gray skin color
Not drinking fluids
Severe or persistent vomiting
Not waking up
The child is so irritable, he or she does not want to be held

32. Communicate Flu Symptoms Requiring Urgent Medical Care
Pain or pressure in the abdomen
Sudden dizziness
Confusion
Flu-like symptoms improve, but then return with fever & worse cough

33. Kent County Health Department Contacts
Communicable Disease Unit:
Ph: (616)
Health Education & Promotion:
Ph: (616)